Abstract: An image matching method includes: extracting a plurality of feature points from a reference image; selecting a first feature point from the feature points, and selecting a first reference search area comprising the first feature point; setting a first matching candidate search area corresponding to the first reference search area from a target image, and extracting a plurality of feature points from the first matching candidate search area; selecting a second feature point closest to the first feature point in the first reference search area, and selecting a first straight line connecting the first and second feature points; generating a plurality of segments from the feature points extracted from the first matching candidate search area; and determining a first matching straight line matching a length and an angle of the first straight line, from the segments generated from the feature points extracted from the first matching candidate search area.

Abstract: A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

Abstract: A method of creating a orthomosaic of a corridor area, the corridor area at least partially described by a corridor path, the method comprising flying an aircraft along a primary flight line approximating the corridor path and capturing a sequence of primary images; flying the aircraft along a secondary flight line substantially parallel to the corridor path and capturing a sequence of secondary images; identifying, in the primary images and secondary images, common features corresponding to common ground points; estimating, via bundle adjustment and from the common ground points, an exterior orientation associated with each primary image and a three-dimensional position associated with each ground point; orthorectifying, using at least some of the exterior orientations and at least some of the three-dimensional ground point positions, at least some of the primary images; and merging the orthorectified primary images to create the orthomosaic.

Abstract: A method for providing mapping, data management and analysis. Creation of a map is initiated with a desired Gaussian aggregation and desired color map parameters. Data is loaded to be utilized in the map. The data is rasterized, then converted to a certain scale. A convolution operation is performed on the data. The convolution results are applied to a color ramp, and the map is created based on the color ramp and the convolution results.

Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, a plurality of rotors, and a sensor, wherein the fuselage includes a control module and a signal processing module, and the control module is connected the arms, which is used to control the rotation of arms. The sensor is configured to the fuselage of the UAV, which is used to detect the rotation change value of the UAV. The signal processing module is connected with the sensor and the control module, which is used to receive and analyze the signal of the sensor, and the control module controls the following flying of the UAV.

Abstract: A data receiving module receives sampled agricultural-related data associated with a given geographic area. An analysis module processes the received sampled agricultural-related data to generate a sub-sampled raster of agricultural-related data over the given geographic area. The analysis module processes the sub-sampled raster of agricultural-related data to generate a final output raster of agricultural-related data over the given geographic area. The final output raster has a higher resolution than the sub-sampled raster. A geospatial data map generation module generates image data that when used to control a display of a remote subscriber computing device causes the display to show a geospatial data map based on the final output raster of agricultural-related data over the given geographic area. A communication module transmits instructions including the generated image data to the remote subscriber computing device to cause processing of the image data to display the geospatial data map on the display.

Abstract: A robot serves for inspecting rotor blades of wind energy installations. A frame construction includes an inner opening surrounding a rotor blade during use and a plurality of propellers for a vertical flying movement of the robot. A rotor blade state detection system disposed at the frame construction detects the state of the rotor blades. Preferably a power and/or data cable is provided for connecting the robot during use to a control and evaluation station provided, for example, on the ground.

Abstract: A carrier configured to carry an imaging device. The carrier may include a frame assembly comprising at least two frames, a combined rotation about the at least two frames controlling an orientation of the imaging device, or compensating the movement or vibration to stabilize the imaging device. The carrier may also include a motor assembly comprising at least two motors, each motor configured to drive a corresponding frame to rotate, wherein at least one angle formed by two frames among the at least two frames is a non-right angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating spectral measurements taken of one or more targets from an aerial vehicle. Multiple photo sensors may be configured to obtain spectral measurements of one or more ambient light sources. The obtained spectral measurements of the one or more ambient light sources may be used to calibrate the obtained spectral measurements of the target.

Abstract: A head worn display system (e.g., helmet mounted (HMD) display system, and an eye wear mounted display system,) can include a combiner, a head position sensor and a computer. The computer provides symbology in response to first sensor input values associated with the head position. The symbology can be conformal with a real world scene. A monitoring system includes a redundant head position sensor for providing second sensor input values associated with head position. The computer monitors for positional accuracy of the symbology by comparing symbology calculated using the first and second input sensor values or by using an inverse function to compare sensor values.

Abstract: A method may include generating one or more control signals configured to control a velocity of an image sensing system based on a rate of recording pixels frames in the image sensing system. In some embodiments, the method may alternatively or additionally include generating one or more control signals configured to control the rate of recording in the image sensing system based on the velocity of the image sensing system. In some embodiments, a portion of image pixel data for a pixel frame may be output for transmission to a remote receiver. In some embodiments, the output data may include a recently recorded image data pixel for those surface resolution cells for which there is no currently stored reference image data pixel of a previously recorded pixel frame that is the same or is different by less than a threshold amount as the recently recorded image data pixel.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for controlling an orbiting satellite by sensing a change in a yaw angle of the orbiting satellite and calculating a ground sample distance (GSD) based on the yaw angle. The apparatus may include a sensor configured to sense a yaw angle corresponding to yaw steering of the orbiting satellite, and a processor configured to calculate, based on the yaw angle, a GSD corresponding to a length of a pixel projected onto a planetary surface scanned by the orbiting satellite.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for precise target positioning in geographical imaging are provided. The system includes: a sensor including a camera and a telemetry information provider; and a simulated image mechanism for simulating an image of the view from the camera generated from an orthophotograph. A display displays a geographical image of a view from the camera and simultaneously displaying the simulated image. A selection component is provided for selecting a location on the simulated image. This is done by reference to a target in the geographical image. A world coordinates calculating component accurately calculates the world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calculating satellite access windows for a constellation of imaging satellites. In some implementations, systems and methods are provided for managing execution of native programs on high performance computing systems. In one embodiment a system can determine, for each time interval within a first period of time, a position of each imaging satellite of a constellation of imaging satellites. The system can transform, for each time interval within the first period of time, the position of each imaging satellite from a first coordinate system to a second coordinate system. The system can determine an access window for at least one imagining satellite based at least in part on a determined angle between the vector to the respective location and a determined vector to the respective satellites. The system can schedule the at least one imaging satellite to perform a task within the access window.

Abstract: A terrain mapping system includes an aerial system including at least one camera configured to capture a plurality of aerial images of an area and transmit the plurality of aerial images to an image database, a plurality of machines each having a ground control point (GCP) disposed thereon, and each being configured to periodically record a global location of the GCP in a location history database, and a mapping unit configured to construct a preliminary three-dimensional (3D) terrain map based on the plurality of aerial images, detect at least one GCP within at least one aerial image, determine an estimated global location and an accurate global location of the at least one GCP, and calibrate the preliminary 3D terrain map based on the estimated global location and the accurate global location of the at least one GCP.

Abstract: This invention describes a special type of drone called “Flying User Interface” device comprised of a robotic projector-camera system, an onboard digital computer connected with Internet, sensors, and a hardware interface to stick to any surface such as wall, ceilings, etc. Computer further consists of other subsystems, devices, and sensors such as accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, flashlight, etc. Drone flies from one places to another, detects a surface, and sticks to it. After successful sticking mechanism, device stops all its rotators and projects or augments images, information, and user interfaces on the near by surfaces. User interface may contain applications, information about object being augmented and information from Internet. User can interact with user-interface using command and gestures such as hand, body, feet, voice, etc.

Abstract: Plants may be remotely identified using unique biological characteristics (UBCs). One method involves determining a target plant within an area to be surveyed and associated target plant characteristics. The method may further include a determination of one or more unique UBCs associated with the target plant, and the location of a training plant within the physical area that exhibits the target plant characteristics. Thereafter, comparisons may be made between subsections of an acquired, date-specific, geo referenced image and data representing the training plant to identify those subsections that represent plants within the area that are associated with the one or more UBCs.

Abstract: A method for determining the yield loss of a crop using remote sensor data is described. The yield loss is determined using the reflectivity of light by the crop canopy measured from remote sensor data such as an aerial photograph. Pixel color values from the aerial photograph, expressed relative to pixel values from nitrogen-sufficient areas of the field, are transformed to yield losses using a transformation that was developed using empirical data. A similar method is described to determine recommended nitrogen fertilization rates for the crop fields. The yield loss data is useful for nitrogen fertilization management decisions, as it allows a producer of crops to weigh the expense of fertilization against the loss of revenue due to yield loss induced by nitrogen deficiency.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, camera 12 mounted on airframe 10 captures an image of first field of view 20 along first optical axis 21 aimed at first object of interest 23. During the time of exposure, airframe 10 flies first flight path arc 22 centered on first object of interest 23 with a radius substantially equal to the distance between camera 12 and first object of interest 23. Airframe 10 pivots camera 12 around first object of interest 23 while the shutter in camera 12 is open. This is repeated around each subsequent object of interest to produce a scalloped or slalom path, namely Forward Motion Compensated (FMC) flight path 33.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtered image data recovery using lookback include storing first, second, and third data captures received from the image sensor in a first memory component and a second memory component. The methods and systems also include identifying a second detection in the second data capture and a third detection in the third data capture by filtering the first, second, and third data captures. The second detection and the third detection each exceed a pixel intensity threshold. The methods and systems also include correlating the second detection and the third detection to identify at least one track. The methods and systems also include detecting a first detection in the first data capture stored in the second memory component, the first detection being a pixel intensity value that is less than the threshold or an initiation event having a pixel intensity value that is less than the threshold.

Abstract: The present specification relates to a portable device controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle and a method of controlling therefor. According to one embodiment, a method of controlling a portable device controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle capturing an image includes the steps of obtaining first image information of a target object using a camera unit, transmitting a capture control signal controlling image capture for the target object to the unmanned aerial vehicle, receiving second image information of the target object captured based on the capture control signal from the unmanned aerial vehicle and generating a 3D image corresponding to the target object using the first image information and the second image information.

Abstract: A system and a method provide an orientation of a camera on a mobile device. This information can be used in an augmented reality application. The method comprises obtaining an orientation measurement from a sensor relative to the orientation of the sensor. The sensor may have different orientation compared to the camera and, thus, the orientation measurement needs to be adjusted. An appropriate transformation matrix is obtained, which maps the orientation measurement to the camera's perspective. A processor of the mobile device computes the orientation of the camera using the orientation measurement and the transformation matrix.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system for automatically recognizing facial expressions at variable resolutions of video. According to one exemplary method, facial expressions are detected, extracted and classified from a video sequence based on an automatic localization of the periocular region associated with a detected and extracted face.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of items of image information of images photographed by a plurality of image pickup units provided on a vehicle as an outside environment of the vehicle and whose image picked-up areas are partly overlapped with each other; a correcting unit configured to compare a position of a first overlapped area included in one of two items of image information of images whose image picked-up areas are overlapped with each other with a position of a second overlapped area of the other image information, and if the position of the first overlapped area is closer to a center of a display area of the image information, correct the other image information so as to cause the luminance of the second overlapped area to match the luminance of the first overlapped area.

Abstract: A method is provided for the real-time determination of signals to be summed from signals representative of an image portion which are respectively received from detectors belonging to the same optical sensor, the detectors being organized in a matrix formed by rows and columns, the signals to be summed being received on the same column. The method also determines the time during which the detectors must acquire the signals to be summed. The method determines a value representative of a modulation transfer function of at least one lens and/or at least one mirror placed upstream of the optical sensor, and a signal-to-noise ratio of the image portion, based on a location of one of the detectors and on a signal representative of an image portion obtained from the detectors. This representative value is dependent on the number. The method searches for the number and the time maximizing the representative value.

Abstract: A camera array and method are disclosed for capturing and processing images of an area of terrain. For each of a plurality of time-steps within a time period, using each of a plurality of cameras in a camera array, an exemplary method includes: generating an image of a respective portion of terrain, wherein the cameras in the camera array have substantially fixed positions relative to each other, and the portions of terrain are such that the whole of the area of terrain has been imaged by the end of the time period; selecting a subset of the images such that the whole of the terrain is covered by the portions of the terrain in the images in the subset; and for an image not in the subset, if an object of interest is in that image, extracting a sub-image containing the object from that image.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising: imaging a feature of a component of an electrical power transmission system for example in combination with a reference component or feature of known dimensions, the reference component or feature comprising a reference, to produce one or more images; analyzing the one or more images with a photogrammetry algorithm to measure the feature of the component; and placing a protector at least partially over the component, the protector being selected to fit the component based on the measurement of the feature. In some embodiments the method may further comprise making the protector based on the measurement of the feature.

Abstract: A carrier for a movable object to couple a carried object to the movable object, wherein the carrier has at least two rotational axes; wherein a combined rotation about the at least two rotational axes controls an orientation of the carried object or compensates a movement and a vibration of the movable object, so as to stabilize the carried object; wherein an angle formed by the two rotational axes is a non-right angle to reduce a rotation radius of the rotation, thereby reducing an equivalent moment of inertia; and wherein a center of gravity of a load applied on each axis of the two rotational axes coincides with a corresponding axis.

Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is improved with a navigational system having both cameras and echolocation sensors, each including overlapping fields of view. The cameras and echolocation sensors may be part of an optical and echolocation system, respectively, that may work in conjunction with a global positioning system to determine a course for the autonomous vehicle to reach an objective while detecting and avoid obstacles along the course.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus facilitating assessments of structural and electronic features, parameters, characteristics or any combination thereof using one or more unmanned autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, an unmanned vehicle may be configured to monitor one or both of the structural and electrical characteristics of an object, and can also include cooperative behavior between two or more unmanned vehicles to test electrical communication in a directional fashion.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting trees in an image. A system and method may receive a dimension related to the trees in an input image. A two dimensional (2D) high pass filter may be applied to the input image to produce a high pass image. Objects may be marked in the high pass image based on the dimension. A processed image may be produced by associating a set of pixels in the high pass image with a respective set of grayscale values. A density operator may be applied to the processed image to identify locations with high frequency changes. Shapes may be defined to include the locations. Trees may be identified by grouping one or more shapes.

Abstract: The present application discloses a remote control method and apparatus for controlling the state of a movable object and/or a load carried thereon. The remote control method comprising: receiving, via an apparatus, a state signal that corresponds to a user's position; remote-controlling the state of the a load being carried on a movable object based on the state signal; wherein the state of the load is the result of combining the movement of the load relative to the movable object and the movement of the object relative to its environment. For example, the control of the state can be achieved through the state of the apparatus itself, a user's state captured by an apparatus, a graphical interface on a screen of an apparatus, or a voice command.

Abstract: Cameras for capturing an image of an object include a CCD, an optical filter for removing energy of a portion of the spectrum wavelengths, and a ND filter for variable light attenuation. Methods for generating 4-band image data involve obtaining four spectral channels of data using a single CCD and generating 4-band image data. Methods for generating a 4×4 (or a 3×3) color correction matrix involve obtaining four (or three) spectral channels of data with a single CCD and generating the 4×4 (or 3×3) color correction matrix based on these four (or three) spectral channels of data.

Abstract: A system for aerially moving a payload, the system having at least two payloads, at least one platform for carrying the at least two payloads, at least one line connected to the at least one object, the at least one line connected to the at least one platform in at least four locations, and at least one reel and motor coupled to the at least one line connected to the at least one platform, such that the at least one reel and motor in conjunction with the at least one line is capable of moving the at least one platform carrying the at least two payloads in at lest two of the x-, y-, and z-directions.

Abstract: A system for evaluating the phytotoxicity and/or injury of plants is described. Plants are planted in row sections and a cart is used to pass a radiometric sensor over the row sections. The cart has a radiometric sensor assembly positioned above the row section. Each sensor assembly generates a data signal and a computer receives and stores the data signals. The field cart is positioned above the row sections and measures the existence of plants in the row section and the quantity of vegetation in the row section. Related methods area also described.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage comprising at least one window equipped with a system for displaying images of the outside environment for a passenger. The display system comprises a camera for filming the environment outside the aircraft; a display surface; a display projector suitable for displaying an image of the outside environment on the display surface; and a first image processor suitable for receiving the images of the outside environment. The first image processor is configured to produce computed images which are in continuity with the images visible to the passenger through the window, and transmit the computed images to the display projector.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a system and method for assigning mission directives to one or more unmanned vehicles and transferring mission directives from one unmanned aerial vehicle to a second unmanned aerial vehicle. The method comprises providing a set of instructions to a first unmanned aerial vehicle, storing the set of instructions on a nonvolatile memory component of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, executing one or more tasks of the set of instructions by the first unmanned aerial vehicle, transferring a set of instructions comprising unexecuted tasks from the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a second unmanned aerial vehicle, and storing the set of instructions on a nonvolatile memory component of the second unmanned aerial vehicle. The invention is further directed toward a method of determining a flight path for one or more unmanned aerial vehicles stationed at charging stations.

Abstract: System and method for enhancing at least one atmospheric parameter of interest provided in remotely-sensed data by detecting and suppressing false alarm data, including computer code to receive measurement data and background including false alarms, computer code to conduct detection tests for the atmospheric parameter, computer code to compute the strength of the tests, and computer code to weight the measurement data based on the strengths and enhance the measurement data based on the weighted data.

Abstract: A radar system contains a plurality of sub-modules which irradiate beams for a distributed aperture radar. Each of the plurality of sub-modules irradiates the beam, moves and, and communicates with an external unit for a distributed aperture process. The radar system may contain a command unit configured to command the sub-modules. The command unit measures each sub-module and communicates with the sub-module, acquires necessary data of measurement data of the sub-module, position data received from the sub-module, operation situation data of the sub-module and topographical data around the sub-module, calculates a synthetic beam pattern, calculates the arrangement of the sub-modules when the synthetic beam pattern becomes equal to a predetermined pattern, and instructs each sub-module to move based on the calculated arrangement of the sub-modules.

Abstract: An image capture system for capturing images of an object, the image capture system comprising a moving platform such as an airplane, one or more image capture devices mounted to the moving platform, and a detection computer. The image capture device has a sensor for capturing an image. The detection computer executes an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in an image immediately after the image is captured and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image. Alternatively, the detection computer sends a signal to the flight management software executed on a computer system to automatically schedule a re-shoot of the image. When the moving platform is an airplane, the detection computer schedules a re-shoot of the image such that the image is retaken before landing the airplane.

Abstract: Selected embodiments use a relatively small image detector and a scanning mirror to obtain effective performance of a larger image detector. An imager with folded optics captures images of different field positions of a field of view (FOV), and stitches the images together for a larger image of the FOV. The stitched image is processed to identify portions of interest within the larger image, for example, using a cuing algorithm. The portions of interest are scanned again to capture enhanced quality images using, for example, longer dwell time for enhanced contrast. Another image of the FOV or a part of the FOV is stitched together using the enhanced quality images.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises receiving color image frames and panchromatic image frames associated with a scene. The color image frames correspond to the panchromatic image frames. The method further comprises computing registration information based on a panchromatic image frame and one or more panchromatic image frames from among the panchromatic image frames. A color image frame corresponding to the panchromatic image frame is modified based on the registration information.

Abstract: In a terminal location specifying system, landmark information of a landmark located within a specified distance from an approximate position is retrieved based on approximate position information of a mobile terminal, and the retrieved landmark information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can thereby acquire the landmark information about the landmark located in the vicinity of the mobile terminal. Further, because the landmark information pre-stored in a server is transmitted to the mobile terminal, it is possible to reliably specify the position of the mobile terminal based on the landmark image. Then, the photographing position of the image is analyzed based on the landmark image, and the photographing position is managed as the located position of the mobile terminal and used for position correction, and it is thus possible to accurately specify the position of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting a distortion in an aerial photograph caused by a flight movement in the forward direction. The aerial photograph is captured by a surface sensor, the sensor lines of which sensor are exposed at different, successive exposure times, so that each individual sensor line senses a strip of terrain of the terrain flow over at the different exposure times. A relative flight altitude above the strips of terrain captured by the respective sensor line is assigned to the individual sensor lines. Furthermore, a compensation factor is separately determined for each of the individual sensor lines, wherein the factor depends on an air speed of the flying object, a focal length of the aerial camera and the relative flight altitude assigned to the respective sensor line, and corrects the distortion in the aerial photograph for the lines based on the respective compensation factor.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a generation unit configured to generate a background model of a multinomial distribution from an acquired image, and generate a background, and a determination unit configured to determine whether a background with high reliability can be generated from the background model generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a depth map are provided. The method includes projecting an infrared (IR) dot pattern onto a scene. The method also includes capturing stereo images from each of two or more synchronized IR cameras, detecting a number of dots within the stereo images, computing a number of feature descriptors for the dots in the stereo images, and computing a disparity map between the stereo images. The method further includes generating a depth map for the scene using the disparity map.

Abstract: A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis.

Abstract: A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis.

Abstract: An aerial movement system for supporting an object that includes main reels with associated motors and support lines and an auxiliary reel with an associated motor and auxiliary line wherein upon failure of the main reels, the auxiliary reel switches from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. The auxiliary line may also be capable of transmitting data from the object to a computer.